In November 1998 my BA Gold Card was renewed as I had accumulated in excess of 3000 (UK) Executive Club points (1200 being the threshold). Last year I was downgraded to Silver after accumulating less then 200 points. I was flying slightly less than the previous but the main reason was I switched airlines. A change of job at the beginning of 1999 meant a change of travel policy. My previous company travel department booked BA almost without question, however, my new company were far stricter.

Shortly afer joining I had to fly to Joburg. I asked my secretary to book BA flights from EDI-LHR-JNB. The cost; about GBP2700. AMEX then offerd a consolidated KLM Businesss Class ticket routing EDI-AMS-JNB for GBP1400. The only difference between the consolidated BC ticket and full fare was a GBP25 cancellation charge.

Although I would consider BA Club World to be slightly superior to KLM World Business Class it is not GBP1300 better!!! I also found the KLM flight crew far friendlier than any I had experienced on BA. Over the next few months I made regular trips between Edinburgh and Joburg always using KLM. The savings were too much to ignore.

I then switched most of my inter-European travel to KLM as well. This helped my Flying Dutchman points total rise substantially. Within a few months I was able to upgrade both myself and my girlfriend's cheap Economy tickets to Curacao to Business Class. Something I cannot do on BA.

At the end of 1999 my RoyalWing status was renewed and after decuting the 25,000 status points I still have almost 90,000. This means that even if I do not fly KLM again my RoyalWing status will be renewed for another 3 years! Once again a plus for KLM over BA. At the end of a membership year they reset your total to zero.

For almost 11 months I never received a call from BA asking why I was no longer flying with them. Eventually in December 1999 I recived a call from the Exectutive Club. It went something like this -

"We notice you haven't been flying much with us this year. Is there any reason for this?"

"Yes. Your fares are too expensive and you only award points and miles on the most expensive fares"

"OK. I'll put that on the form. Bye."

End of Call.

I was gobsmacked! The lack of concern about the loss of a high revenue customer amazed me. I then made a decision only to fly BA if I had to.

BA may be more interested in premium passengers while the world economy is booming, but if things start going awry again, filling those seats from LHR to NYC at GBP3500 may be difficult.

Hopefully, the new CEO will order a complete review of their attitude to business travellers whose companies to not have limitless amounts of cash to spend on flights. While he is doing that he should also review their attitude to leisure travellers. Awarding points and miles, albeit at a lower level, on all fares would be a start.